scapolite

American

[skap-uh-lahyt] / ˈskæp əˌlaɪt /

noun

any of a group of minerals of variable composition, essentially silicates of aluminum, calcium, and sodium, occurring as massive aggregates or tetragonal crystals.
the member of the scapolite group intermediate in composition between meionite and marialite; wernerite.

scapolite British

/ ˈskæpəˌlaɪt /

noun

Also called: wernerite. any of a group of colourless, white, grey, or violet fluorescent minerals consisting of sodium or calcium aluminium silicate, carbonate, and chloride in tetragonal crystalline form. They occur mainly in impure limestones and pegmatites

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of scapolite

From the German word Skapolith, dating back to 1795–1805. See scape ¹, -o-, -lite

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The purer beds recrystallize as marbles, but where there has been originally an admixture of sand or clay lime-bearing silicates are formed, such as diopside, epidote, garnet, sphene, vesuvianite, scapolite; with these phlogopite, various felspars, pyrites, quartz and actinolite often occur.

From Project Gutenberg

Wer′nerite, a variety of scapolite.

From Project Gutenberg

Scapolite, skap′ō-līt, n. a silicate of alumina and lime, occurring in long rod-like crystals.

From Project Gutenberg

Gabb′ronite, a compact variety of scapolite, resembling gabbro.

From Project Gutenberg

Hypersthene and scapolite both may occur in these rocks and they are sometimes garnetiferous.

From Project Gutenberg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023